Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

Gary Harris was known as serious, polite and softspoken at Michigan State, but his first NBA press conference was a rip-roaring affair.

Some of that had to do with Harris’ fellow first-round pick of the Denver Nuggets, Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkic. A reporter asked Harris about the fact that Nurkic has only been playing basketball for a short time and Harris said: “Five years, that’s crazy.”

Laughter ensued. There was more when Harris was asked about his football receiver days and whether he could score on Denver guard and former cornerback Nate Robinson.

“We’ll see,” Harris said.

“Yes, we will,” Denver coach Brian Shaw quipped.

A day later, Harris was past his drop to 19th in the NBA draft and on to the opportunity at hand. Adreian Payne was past his rise to 15th and touting the Atlanta system and the way it fits him. And Keith Appling was plotting his attempt to make it in the NBA after going undrafted Thursday.

Appling will play for the Portland Trailblazers’ summer league team in Las Vegas from July 11-21, and he and his agent, Michael Silverman, had reason to choose Portland among multiple opportunities. Point guard Damian Lillard’s primary backup is 11-year veteran Mo Williams and the Blazers did not have a draft pick this year.

“This is an ideal situation for Keith,” Silverman said of the MSU and Detroit Pershing product. “The guys behind (Portland starting point guard Damian Lillard) are older and we think Keith really has a chance to fight for a spot here.”

Harris, meanwhile, also will have to earn his minutes as a rookie. The Nuggets were light at the wing entering the week, but they traded for Arron Afflalo, who led Orlando in scoring the past two seasons and averaged 18.2 per game last season.

Denver also returns Randy Foye, who scored 13.2 points a game last season.

“They have some veterans and I’m definitely open to learn, I’m willing to learn,” Harris said. “I’m trying to become the best player I can be and to come in and have some guys who have been in the league and been through it is definitely pretty good for me.”

Afflalo will be 29 next season and Foye will be 31. Harris, just 19, can ease into a role but may have a much larger one early in his career. Denver general manager Tim Connelly cited his youth and his “ton of upside.”

Across the country in Atlanta, Hawks general manager Danny Ferry talked about the way NBA people often “over-value” the young and “under-value” four-year college players. He is counting on 23-year-old Payne to serve as evidence.

Ferry said the Hawks like Michigan State guys – MSU now has eight first-round picks since 2000, most in the Big Ten – and he said Payne should fit perfectly in Atlanta’s shooter-friendly system.

Payne agreed and called himself “a tough player (who’s) unselfish and I play hard.”

Atlanta has established big men in Al Horford (Grand Ledge), Paul Millsap and others, but no one quite like Payne.

“I’m very versatile,” Payne said. “I can guard different positions and score different types of ways. … They get up and down, share the ball, they’re tough and very competitive. So I think I will fit in very well.”